More Aboriginal people live in Canada's cities than on reserves or remote parts of the country. Several generations have grown in relative silence until recent years when the Aboriginal community and governments began in earnest to focus on their Urban Aboriginal issues and needs. This forum is here for you to provide useful and creative information to help address those needs. Let's share what works, not just what's wrong.

Aboriginal people continue to be disproportionately represented among the homeless population, with the proportion worsening since the 2012 Count.

Aboriginal people still make up less than 3% of Calgary’s population but make up 21% of its homeless population (compared to 18% in 2012).

39% more Aboriginal individuals were enumerated in the 2014 Count than in the January 2012 Count.

Specifically: Aboriginal people are severely underrepresented in transitional housing (13% vs. 35% over all ethnicities), moderately overrepresented in systems homeless (5% vs. 3% over all ethnicities), and sharply overrepresented among rough sleepers: 15% of Aboriginal people sleep rough vs. 6% over all ethnicities. 48% of Calgary’s rough sleepers are Aboriginal.

Aboriginal women are overrepresented relative to other ethnicities. 41% of homeless Aboriginal persons are women vs. 17% of homeless Caucasian persons, and 34% of all homeless women counted are Aboriginal.

Aboriginal youth (ages 13 to 17) are also greatly overrepresented relative to other ethnicities. 4.5% of homeless Aboriginal individuals are classified as youth, versus 1.6% of homelessCaucasian individuals and 2.4% across all ethnicities. 38% of all homeless 13-to-17 yearolds are Aboriginal.

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Data From January 2014 Point-in-Time Count to Inform Update of Calgary's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness

CALGARY, ALBERTA

April 22, 2014

The Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) will use data from the Point-in-Time Count (Count) conducted on January 15, 2014 to update Calgary's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness (10 Year Plan). A detailed report was released today, showing changes in the number and demographics of people experiencing homelessness in Calgary.

Key findings in the report are as follows.

-- The growth in the homeless population has stopped. There were 3,533 counted as homeless, compared with 3,190 people in January 2012, 3,576 people in August 2012 and 3,601 people in 2008.

-- The number of people in emergency shelters, short-term supportive housing and within public systems remained consistent to prior Counts, while there was a rise in the number of people sleeping outside (215), compared with the previous winter Count (64).

-- Aboriginal people continue to be over-represented among the homeless population, making up less than 3% of Calgary's population but 21% of the homeless population.

-- Homelessness occurs across the lifespan, with 38% between 25 to 44 years of age and 38% between 45 and 64 years of age.

-- Women continue to be under-represented, accounting for only 25% of the homeless population.

-- The number of homeless families rose slightly (209), compared with the summer Count of 2012 (198).

-- There were 326 unaccompanied youth (between 13 and 24 years of age) counted as homeless.

The Count was sponsored by Burnet, Duckworth and Palmer LLP. Counts are one day snapshots of homelessness that capture numbers and basic demographics of people staying in emergency shelters, short-term supportive housing, jails, hospitals, addictions treatment facilities and on the streets.

The CHF leads implementation of Calgary's 10 Year Plan with agencies, the private sector, government, the faith community, other foundations and all Calgarians to end homelessness in Calgary once and for all. For more information, visit calgaryhomeless.com.